Flexible Bag Equilibration via Mechanical Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for stabilizing oxygen in reference liquids used in blood gas analyzers are inadequate, leading to unstable analyte values and prolonged equilibration times, especially when temperature and pressure changes occur, resulting in delays and measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
Introducing mechanical vibrations into the flexible bag containing the reference liquid, using a transmitter element to couple energy into the liquid, which accelerates the equilibration process by enhancing diffusion and mixing between the liquid and gas phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flexible container and liquid are left at rest, then the liquid remains stable, but the equilibration time becomes excessively long (several hours)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through a transmitter element that couples energy into the flexible bag containing the reference liquid. This vibration enhances diffusion and mixing between the liquid and gas phases, reducing equilibration time from several hours to just minutes while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Loss of time
If mechanical vibrations are introduced to accelerate equilibration, then equilibration time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the flexible bag itself as part of the vibration transmission system. The flexible wall of the bag acts as a transmitter element that couples mechanical energy from the vibration device into the liquid, eliminating the need for separate complex transmission mechanisms and simplifying the overall device structure.
3Speed
If the liquid surface area to gas phase area ratio is increased, then diffusion rate improves, but the container volume requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical vibration creates enhanced mixing and diffusion throughout the liquid volume, effectively increasing the mass transfer rate without requiring an increased liquid surface area. This allows maintaining compact container dimensions while achieving rapid equilibration through vibration-induced convective mixing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly reduces the equilibration time for gas values, ensuring accurate measurement operations by establishing equilibrium within minutes, compared to several hours without vibration, thus preventing delays and measurement errors.
Implementation Method 1
the energy of a mechanical vibration of a transmitter element is introduced into the liquid present in the flexible bag, the mechanical energy being introduced via at least one wall region of the flexible bag in contact with the transmitter element
Implementation Method 2
the kinetics of the establishment of equilibrium depend on the kinetics of the transfer of the individual gas components from the gas space into the liquid and vice versa, and on the diffusion rate of the individual gas components within the liquid volume
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The method involves contacting liquid surface with a gas phase. A cassette (2) is exchangeably inserted into an analyzer (1) and configured to hold flexible, gas-tight bag (3), in which the liquid and the gas phase are accommodated. The energy of a mechanical vibration of a sensor element (10) is entered in the flexible bag. The entry of mechanical energy through sensor element is in contact with wall portion (11) of flexible bag. The mechanical energy is introduced in the form of periodic shock waves. An independent claim is included for a device for accelerating the equilibration of fluid.